I was hoping to spend more time talking with Sebastian and being there for him and Lemuel, especially since I have much to make up for in regard to my mistreatment of their relationship. But when I felt Callista’s rage and grief crash over me like a tidal wave, I had to adjust my priorities. I know Callista was going to the cells to check on everything with Circe, and I have to wonder what was said or done to cause this much fury in my sweet, graceful Queen.As I walk through the palace at a quick pace, my Elite Guards, Rhea and Pierce follow closely behind me.“Is something the matter, Your Majesty?” Rhea asks.“Something has enraged my Queen. I want to know what that is,” I inform them. 'Pearl, what’s wrong?' I ask through my link with Callista as I make my way to the cells. Her thoughts and emotions are so chaotic right now that I don’t want to push and invade her mind to better understand them.Callista and I learned long ago that there is a time and place to use our bond in that
Have you ever gotten so drunk you completely blacked out, to the point that waking up can almost feel like starting your life all over again? If the answer is no, you’ve probably lived a very sensible life. However, as someone who has been blackout drunk more than once in my long life, I can say right now feels about the same as that. That moment your mind and body become alert again, but there’s that split second where your brain has to remember how to make the body do what is meant to come naturally. Then your mind tries to go back in time to remember how you got here and where the hell here is. Come to think of it, I do actually feel hungover. I slowly open my eyes to take in familiar, comforting surroundings and almost immediately the memories come flooding back. Circe, the cell, the pain, SEBASTIAN! I frantically sit up despite the protests from my body and look around only to heave a sigh of relief when laying down beside me is the man I seek. I look him over and am relieved whe
As I start to take slow, unsteady steps around the bed, Sebastian races around to my side and scoops me up into his arms. On instinct, I wrap my arms around his neck and quickly get my bearings before narrowing my eyes at him.“Sebastian, I can walk just fine,” I point out.“Yes, but if you walk, then I can’t do this,” he says proudly as he saunters towards the bathroom, carrying me as though I weigh no more than a feather. Show off.Sebastian carries me into the bathroom and carefully sets me on my feet. As I reach for the door to the shower, Sebastian gives my hand a light whack.“What was that for?” I ask incredulously as I rub the back of my hand.“No shower. Bath,” he says, his diction rivalling that of Tarzan. I half expect him to say, ‘Me Sebastian, You Lemuel.’Sebastian walks over to the tub and turns the tap and checks the temperature of the water. Once satisfied, he walks over back over to me, “May I undress you?”“You’ve undressed me several times now, and I don’t recall y
After a nice relaxing bath free of any more interruptions, we get out and take a few minutes to trim our unruly beards. Both of our beards have grown out a bit in the last week, and I can’t speak for Sebastian, but I never let mine get this long. I always prefer my beard to be so short it almost appears painted on.“Do you have any razors?” I ask.He looks at me in confusion, “I just put one in front of you.”“No, I mean a real razor, not this modern plastic crap.”“You’ve been using the modern-day crap since you arrived here.”“It sufficed in order to do basic maintenance, but now I need a little bit more than that and a straight razor works best,” I explain.“You still use those?” He asks in surprise.“Of course, they allow me to have such clean edges.”“That explains it. I always wondered how you got your beard so neat. Sorry to say, I don’t have that kind of razor, but I can have the staff bring you one for future use,” he says, planting a shaving cream kiss on my cheek.I smile a
An hour could have passed, and I wouldn’t know or care. Just sitting here, holding Sebastian like this, is enough to sustain me and make all my problems go away, but I’m a practical man, and even I know we can’t stay like this forever.“We should go see your parents,” I say with a kiss.He groans and holds me tighter, “Fuck ‘em.”I chuckle, “Well, I’d rather fuck you if I’m honest, but we can always do that later.”“Promise?” He asks excitedly.My laugh only continues as I cup his face in my hand, “I promise to spend the rest of the evening bringing you pleasure.”He takes a breath and leaps off my lap, “Well, come on then. Let’s get this over with,” he says, grabbing me by the wrist and yanking me off the bedroom bench.“At least let me fix my shirt,” I protest, as he proceeds to pull me out of the room.“Nudity is nothing new around here.”I roll my eyes but manage to snatch my arm back. I quickly do up my shirt and tuck it in, then calmly take his hand in mine.“As Prince, a little
“Glad to see you remember me, Lemuel,” the Goddess smirks, sending chills through my aching limbs. I feel as though someone has poured quick-setting cement into my bones. I can’t move, but even if I could, what would be the point? I can’t outrun a Goddess, especially not the one who made me what I am. Stupid of me to think I could be happy for even a moment. Of course, I can’t be happy. She’ll never allow it. “YOU'RE the Goddess of Darkness and Shadow?” Sebastian says in disbelief. “In the flesh,” she says with a flourish of her hands. She hasn’t changed a bit since I last saw her. She still tours over us as 7’2” with eyes piercing as liquid silver, hair as golden as the sun and skin as white and smooth as ivory with an ethereal glow to it. She’s wearing a very revealing low-cut, halter neck, white, floor-length toga-like dress with a split all the way up to her ribs on her right side with only a golden thread crossing over her hip keeping the fabric in place. A white and gold sas
We stay wrapped in each other’s arms until that dark weight comes crashing over me again, and I don’t have to look to know Merlos has returned. I take in a deep breath and slowly pull back from Sebastian’s hold to look over at Merlos watching us with a face of indifference. I don’t know what she and Zarseti discussed, and her face gives away nothing. “I don’t like to prolong unnecessary conversations, so let’s keep this brief. Do you wish to complete your bond?” She asks cooly. Sebastian and I look at each other thrown by the drastically different topic of conversation. “Being fully bonded to Sebastian is something I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” I admit, holding his hand firmly in mine and focusing on the electric currents of our bond to keep myself calm. “Zarseti has granted me the ability to complete your bond for you if that is what you wish. However, there will be some alterations.” “Alterations?” I ask tentatively. “You think me cruel Lemuel, for wh
The last couple of days have been a whirlwind. An exciting new development in my curse-free state is that now makkares can heal me. Sebastian had a brainwave and decided it was worth a try asking a friendly makkari to heal me since I was technically no longer cursed, and it turns out he was correct. All the pain, aches, exhaustion, and those disgusting blisters, are now a thing of the past, which is a great relief to me as it now means I can enjoy all the blessings that surround me. Being fully bonded to Sebastian has undoubtedly been the highlight, and even as I think that I can’t help running my fingers over the slightly raised mark around my wrist. Sebastian’s family was overjoyed at the news, even Haemon – which I’m still getting used to. Eisa and Callista wanted to throw a grand party in our honour, and Sebastian lit up at the idea, but given his coronation is just days away I felt there was no point. Callista has been incredibly sweet and motherly towards me. Teaching me the